Author: Grace Johnson

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order introducing a $100,000 fee for applicants to the H-1B visa programme. The order accuses the system of “abuse” and denies entry unless the sum is paid. Critics insist the H-1B programme weakens American workers’ prospects. Supporters, including billionaire Elon Musk, argue it enables the US to attract global talent. Gold card promises fast-track entry Trump also unveiled a “gold card” to speed up visas for certain immigrants. The programme requires fees starting at £1m. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick joined Trump in the Oval Office on Friday. “A hundred thousand dollars a year…

A deal over TikTok may be close. US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping plan to discuss terms on Friday. Officials from both sides reached a “framework” agreement this week. Reports say TikTok’s US operations may be sold to American firms. If the deal succeeds, one expert called it a “rare breakthrough” in US-China trade talks. It could end a dispute that has dominated headlines for years. Experts now discuss what such a deal means for TikTok’s 170 million US users, and what Beijing gains in return. The US may not get TikTok’s secret sauce Chinese state media…

Meta has launched a new generation of smart glasses powered by artificial intelligence. The company wants them to become must-have accessories worldwide. Presentation at Meta Connect At the Meta Connect developer conference, CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled several products created with Ray-Ban and Oakley. A neural wristband was among the highlights. It connects with the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses and lets users send messages through small hand gestures. The announcement came as Meta continues to face criticism about the effects of its platforms. Concerns are especially focused on young users. Zuckerberg described the launch as a “huge scientific breakthrough.” He spoke…

Food prices rose in August for the fifth month in a row. Official figures show the sharpest increase since early last year. The cost of food and non-alcoholic drinks grew at an annual rate of 5.1%. Beef, butter, milk and chocolate drove the rise. Slower growth in areas such as air fares kept overall UK inflation steady at 3.8%, unchanged from July. Economists said supermarkets are passing higher wage and National Insurance costs directly onto consumers. Bank of England holds steady Inflation remains above the Bank of England’s 2% target. Markets expect the committee to keep interest rates unchanged this…

US President Donald Trump announced he will sue the New York Times for 15 billion dollars over what he calls defamation and libel. Trump declared on his platform Truth Social that the newspaper has lied and smeared him for too long and that this will now stop. Criticism over Kamala Harris endorsement The president condemned the Times for endorsing Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. He accused the paper of acting as a mouthpiece for the Democratic Party. Trump said his lawsuit will be filed in Florida, a Republican stronghold. The New York Times has not yet commented on the…

Lawyer Henry Clack has grim experience with Nigerian criminal gangs. Clack, a solicitor at London-based law firm HFW, represents shipping firms hit by cyber attacks. He says Nigerian organised groups are the most common counterparties. They have carried out several high-value “man-in-the-middle” frauds in recent years. How hackers trick the shipping industry This fraud allows hackers to intercept communication between two parties. They then impersonate both sides to steal log-in details, financial data, or even control of a company’s system. Criminals later demand payment to release stolen data or to give up control of computers. HFW data shows hacking in…

Trump sets preconditions for action US President Donald Trump declared he is ready to impose stronger sanctions on Russia. But he insisted Nato members must first stop buying Russian oil. On his Truth Social platform, he wrote he was “ready for major sanctions on Russia” once Nato states had “agreed and started to do the same.” Trump has frequently promised harsher action against Moscow. Yet he has not acted when the Kremlin ignored his warnings. He called the purchase of Russian oil “shocking.” He also pushed for tariffs of 50 to 100 percent on China. He argued such steps would…

Seven firms under scrutiny Seven technology firms face a US investigation into how their artificial intelligence chatbots interact with children. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) demands details about safety measures and how the companies make money from these tools. The debate on children and AI grows louder. Many experts warn that young people remain highly vulnerable. Chatbots can mimic emotions and act like friends, blurring the line between real and artificial companionship. The inquiry targets Alphabet, OpenAI, Character.ai, Snap, XAI, Meta and Instagram. Each company has been asked to respond. FTC wants answers FTC chairman Andrew Ferguson said the probe…

A sweeping immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia will delay its opening by at least two months. The company confirmed the postponement after hundreds of foreign workers were detained. raid sparks diplomatic strain The raid has heightened tensions between the United States and South Korea. Many of those detained came from South Korea. President Yoon warned the crackdown could discourage future foreign investment in the United States. South Korean officials said many workers were sent on a temporary basis to help launch the new plant. Hyundai chief executive José Muñoz told American media the raid will cause a…

US pharmaceutical giant Merck has dropped plans for a £1bn expansion in the UK. The company said the government is failing to invest enough in the life sciences sector. The multinational, known as MSD in Europe, will shift research to the US and cut jobs in Britain. Company leaders accused successive governments of undervaluing vaccines and innovative medicines. Industry figures warned that Merck’s move could trigger a wider pullback of pharmaceutical investment from the UK. Government highlights efforts but accepts challenges A government spokesperson defended current spending on research but admitted more action is needed. Officials pointed to new initiatives…